Hey Neighbour,
Autumn's here and I've been craving all the cosy things - soups, roasts, basically something warm in a mug. And it got me thinking: what if we shared our favourite comfort recipes with each other? The ones that are always a hit at dinner parties. The family recipes that got passed down. The drink you make when friends come over. The thing you bake when you need to feel grounded.
Before I dive into this properly, I want to know - is this something you'd be into? Would you enjoy reading other neighbours' recipes and maybe sharing your own?
Let me know below.👇
Would you like to see (and share) comfort food recipes in the newsletter?
In the meantime...
Plan Your Weekend:
Round Up
Bits and bobs worth knowing.
🚶 Fancy a free walking tour this Saturday? Local London Guiding Day offers five routes on Saturday 4 Oct. Camden Guides runs "Pioneers, Plectrums and Plague Pits" from Tottenham Court Road Tube.
☕ North London's popular Fink's cafe chain officially opened its fifth outlet this week in Clissold House, Stoke Newington's Clissold Park. The bakery famous for viral Princess Cake and sourdough sandwiches takes over the Grade II listed building.
🎧 Iconic nightclub The End returns next weekend: The 90s club that defined London's electronic music scene reopens at KOKO Camden Friday-Sunday, Oct 10-12. Three nights of deep house, techno, and drum & bass from top DJs. Tickets still available - grab them before they sell out.
🍽️ Hampstead Heath café decision deadline passes: Tender bids for Parliament Hill and Lido cafés closed Wednesday. D'Auria family and Hoxton Beach operators find out in early November if they keep their spots or get replaced. City committee heard concerns process feels "secretive" despite community outcry.
My North London Top Events
Hampstead Heath Conker Championships | 📍Parliament Hill Bandstand, NW5 | 5 Oct | Donation
The world famous conker championships return to Parliament Hill from 12:30-4pm. Age categories for under 8s, 8-12s, 13-17s and adults, with finals in the "squared conker circle" in front of crowds. No experience needed - the Grand Conker Meister explains rules and adjudicates. Registration from 12:30pm, you pick your own conker and make a donation.
Harvest Festival | 📍Community Plant Nursery, Tufnell Park N7 | 4 Oct | Free
Harvest celebration at the Community Plant Nursery from 12-4pm. Composting workshops, live music, bird box making, and food preservation sessions. Plus refreshments from the nursery's own harvest. Free community event to celebrate what's been grown locally.
Swiftie Quiz | 📍Big Chill House, N1 | 5 Oct | (£)
Taylor Swift trivia at Big Chill House from 12pm covering all 12 eras. Questions on albums, vault tracks, secret messages, and lyrics. Prizes for quiz winner, runner-up, and best dressed - wear your favourite era outfit whether that's Fearless, Red, or Reputation. Come solo or bring a team, tables are first come first serve so arrive before 12:30pm when the quiz starts. 18+ only with ID required.
Source: Hampstead Heath Conker Championships
Dartmouth Park Autumn Ride | 📍Navigator Square, Archway N19 | 4 Oct | Free
Community bike ride from Archway to Parliament Hill Farmers' Market at 11am. Family-friendly 30-40 minute marshalled ride through Dartmouth Park suitable for young children on bikes and new cyclists. Organised by local families and Camden Cyclists calling for safer streets in the area. Meet at Navigator Square by Archway tube at 11am, leaving 11:45am. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring a roadworthy bike, weather-appropriate clothes, and a lock if staying at the market.
Black British Folk Takeover | 📍Cecil Sharp House, NW1 | 4 Oct | (£)
All-day festival from 1:25pm-10pm celebrating Black British folk music at Cecil Sharp House. Guest curator Angeline Morrison brings together traditional folk sounds and modern music inspired by folk traditions, plus conversations about African diasporic relationships with British folk. Artists include Germa Adan, Bethany Weimers, Border Widow, and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne.
Day Fever | 📍HERE at Outernet, WC2H 8LH | 4 Oct | (£)
Daytime disco at Outernet near Tottenham Court Road from 3pm. Day Fever started in Sheffield and sold out immediately - it's a club night in the afternoon for people who'd rather dance on Saturday afternoon than late at night. Music curated by Jon McClure from Reverend and the Makers. Over 30s only, no gymnastics on the dancefloor.
Seven Sisters Market Grand Reopening |📍Seven Sisters, N15 | 4 Oct | Free
Grand reopening of Seven Sisters Market from 11am-8pm celebrating its Latin American culture and community. 40 new indoor and outdoor stalls selling food, fashion, beauty products, plus services like legal advice. New outdoor seating area and community space for cultural events. Ribbon cutting and speeches at 11am.
⚡ North London Food Events Worth Your Time
I've done the scrolling so you don't have to. Here are the pop-ups and residencies that are actually worth booking before they disappear.
Chuku's is doing an Afrobeats & Lit Brunch for Nigerian Independence Day weekend. Nigerian tapas, live DJ, and they're doing a book swap with Nigerian authors. Sat 4th October, 12-4pm. 274 High Rd, N15 4AJ.
Thrift Taco's taken over the kitchen at Doña in Stoke Newington for six weeks. Fish & chips tostadas, squash blossom tacos, churromisu - all the things they can't do at the market stall. Thurs-Sat nights until 1st November. 92 Stoke Newington High St, N16 7NY.
Jemma Harrison's is still doing her thing at Giacco's on Blackstock Road. Kaunter does New York deli meets Eastern Europe until December. 176 Blackstock Road, N5 1HA.
Swilipino's doing a three-month residency at the ESEA Community Centre in Dalston. Swedish-Filipino food, dinner service, September through December. 12-14 Englefield Road, N1 4LS.
🎟️ Heads up
Upcoming events you should consider booking in advance or planning ahead for. In and out of North London. Events marked with (£) require a ticket in advance.
🪔 Diwali at London Zoo | 📍Land of the Lions, London Zoo NW1 | 17 Oct | Zoo entry required
Celebrate Diwali at London Zoo with free activities in the Land of the Lions area. Make rangoli designs and window decorations, plus explore the Gujarati village recreation with Indian street food. Activities run throughout the day in the Asiatic lion enclosure area. The Hindu festival celebrates the return of Lord Rama and the victory of light over darkness. Activities are free but you need to pay standard zoo admission to attend.
Enfield Poets Literary Festival | 📍Forty Hall, EN2 | 18-19 Oct | Free + (£)
Two-day literary festival celebrating 25 years of Enfield Poets with workshops, readings, and open mic sessions. Highlights include Poet Laureate Simon Armitage reading on Sunday, plus workshops on creative writing, autobiography, and wellbeing. Mix of free events (open mics, talks) and ticketed workshops (£5-£15). Saturday features Caroline Bird readings and lute/poetry combinations, Sunday has masterclasses and poetry prize giving. Good mix for both emerging and established writers.
🗣️ Oscar Wilde: The Legacy of A Scandal | 📍British Library, NW1 | 16 Oct | (£)
Talk about Oscar Wilde's posthumous reputation with his grandson Merlin Holland and actor Rupert Everett, introduced by Gyles Brandreth. Holland discusses his new book "After Oscar: the Legacy of a Scandal" covering what happened after Wilde's death in 1900 - the myths, quarrels between friends and enemies, court cases, and challenges his descendants faced.
🎸 Wishbone Ash | 📍Islington Assembly Hall, N1 | 16 Oct | (£)
Classic rock band Wishbone Ash with their famous twin-guitar sound that influenced loads of bands over 55 years. They'll play hits like "The King Will Come," "Throw Down The Sword" and "Blowin' Free" from their multi-million selling albums.
What’s On This Weekend: 4th - 5th October 2025
Your guide to what’s happening in North London this week. Events marked with (£) require a ticket in advance.
MARKETS & POP UPS
🛍️ Cashblack Market | 📍Hawley Wharf, Camden Market NW1 | 4 Oct | Free
Market showcasing 50+ Black-owned businesses from 12-6pm at Camden Market. Fashion, beauty, arts & crafts, toys, and food stalls plus you can meet the makers behind the brands. Cashblack is launching their "Brick and Mortar" service where you earn cashback shopping at physical Black-owned businesses using Open Banking technology. First time they've done an in-person event. Part of Camden's Black History Season programme.
💿 RCA Records UK Pop-Up | 📍Mare Street Market, N1C | Free
RCA Records opened a pop-up shop at Mare Street Market showcasing vinyl from their roster including Beyoncé, Sade, Miley Cyrus, Bring Me The Horizon, and UK artists like JADE and Myles Smith. Exclusive merch and interactive displays - the launch week features JADE's Glastonbury outfit and costumes from her debut album. Free to browse at 2 Lewis Cubitt Walk, next to Sony Music HQ.
Source: RCA Pop-Up Shop
PARTY TIME
🍻 Camden Oktoberfest | 📍Electric Ballroom, NW1 | 4 Oct | (£)
Oktoberfest-themed party at the Electric Ballroom from 2-9pm with German beer, bratwursts, live band, and games. It's basically a German beer festival set up inside Camden's iconic music venue. Expect steins, Bavarian music, and a party atmosphere.
🕺KOKO Electronic: Louie Vega | 📍KOKO, NW1 | 4 Oct | (£)
Grammy-winning house music legend Louie Vega at KOKO from 10pm-5am. One half of Masters at Work with Kenny Dope, the New York DJ blends house with Latin, jazz and soulful grooves. Supporting acts Anane and Jaden Thompson. Don KOKO serves pizzas and cocktails from 7pm if you want food before.
🪩 Party with Lucky Cloud Sound System | 📍Rose Lipman Building, De Beauvoir, N1 | 4 Oct | (£)
All-day party from 5pm-1am inspired by David Mancuso's legendary NYC loft parties from the 1970s. DJs play wide-ranging music selections. Focus on community and inclusivity rather than bottle service and VIP tables. It’s the last time this is happening this year. Tickets are £20 but you must join their invite list first to reserve a spot on the dancefloor.
Source: An NFL match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021. Image: Tony Hisgett
🏈 NFL In London | 📍Tottenham Hotspur Stadium & Wembley | 5-19 Oct | (£)
American football games across October - Minnesota Vikings vs Cleveland Browns (5 Oct) and Denver Broncos vs New York Jets (12 Oct) both at Tottenham and last time I checked, still have tickets available.
🎬 Tottenham Film Festival | 📍The Beehive Pub, N17 | 4 Oct | (£)
Film Tottenham's second festival at The Beehive– 29 short films on a big screen in the function room behind the bar. Runs 1:30pm-10pm with different sessions for comedy, drama, international films, and horror. You can buy tickets for individual sessions or stay all day and vote for your favourite film.
🎉 Silver Sunday | 📍Middlesex University, Hendon NW4 | 5 October | Free
Free celebration of ageing well in Barnet from 11am-3pm. Light lunch and refreshments provided, plus live music, dance performances, talks, health checks and advice sessions.
LIVE MUSIC
🪕 Maydan Ensemble | 📍Karamel, N22 | 4 Oct | (£)
Jazz mixed with Middle Eastern folk music at Karamel from 8pm. The five-piece band blends modern jazz with Arabic, Turkish and Persian sounds - think Egyptian vocals, Iranian guitar, and traditional folk instruments alongside bass and drums. They've sold out venues including Green Note since forming this year.
🎶 Folk and Roots: Eabhal + Lorraine Nash & Dan Sealey | 📍Green Note, NW1 & Aces and Eights, NW5 | 4-5 Oct | (£)
Two folk gigs from Folk and Roots across the weekend. Saturday brings Scottish band Eabhalplaying vibrant, energetic folk at Green Note in Camden - doors 1:30pm, music 2:30pm. Sunday features Irish singer-songwriter Lorraine Nash and Dan Sealey at Aces and Eights Bar in Kentish Town. Nash blends traditional Irish music with folk, country and Americana, while Sealey shares songs from his various bands with stories from the road. Both shows £15 advance, £18 door. Two different venues, two days of folk music.
🎵 Adderbury Ensemble | 📍Conway Hall, WC1R | 5 Oct | (£)
Classical chamber music from the Adderbury Ensemble performing Beethoven and Dvořák quartets from 6:30-8:30pm. The ensemble brings together top UK freelance musicians who've been performing together since 1986. Doors open 6pm at Conway Hall. Two-hour Sunday evening concert if you fancy some live classical music in Holborn.
🎻 The Outlaw Orchestra + Ross Harding & The Dark Hearts | 📍The Fiddler's Elbow, NW5 | 5 Oct | (£)
End your week on a lively note as The Outlaw Orchestra - described as "the love child of Motorhead and Johnny Cash" - bring raucous rock and roll to The Fiddler's Elbow in Camden. They're joined by Ross Harding & The Dark Hearts with their blues rock sound.
📈The most-viewed events from September:
↳ Street food market? Your mate's coffee shop event? New launch? Festival? Art gallery? Nothing is too big or too small, you can send it all here.
THANKS FOR READING!
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